Tampon



July 22, 1958 A. DRAGHI 2,844,150

' ITAMPON Filed Dec. 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 7 Andre Dra k1ATTORNE 4;

July 22, 1958 Filed Dec. 5, 1955 A. DRAGHI TAMPON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR Andre l) ray/11 ATTOR U ited staresPatenf T0.

2,844,150 I TAMPON Andre Draghi, Stamford, Conn. ApplicationDecember 5,1955, Serial No. 550,981

" j 3 Claims. 0.128485 ';This' invention relates to a tampon fordetection of cancer. More particularly it relates to a tampon as a meansfor mass screening and detection of cancer of the pelvic region. 1

The frequency of advanced cancer of the pelvic region presents tothemedical profession a disturbing picture. One author states-that only arelatively'small percentage of the cases of cancer of the cervix isdetected in the early stage of the disease. This is in spite of thevarious methods to detect cancer of the cervix which have been developedand are being used by gynecologists today. Among the practical barriersto prompt diagnosis is the inability and the reluctance of many women topresent themselves periodically to a physician for a gynecologicalexamination whereby early evidence of cancer may be detected; thisinability, and reluctance is a direct cause ofthe high percentage ofadvanced cancer which occurs or develops in the pelvic region andparticularly-in the region of the cervix uteri. Furthermore theprotracted gynecological examination of the patient which is necessaryto obtain full diagnostic information, is time consuming for thephysician and nurse and accordingly any such routine periodicalexamination may be prohibitively expensive for the patient, and themedical organization undertaking it.

Complete diagnosis to determine whether and to what extent one hascancer must require a thorough gynecological and pelvic examination andbiopsy. Preliminary diagnosis to determine if there are present anyindicia of cancer however, may be asserted by taking a sample of cellswhich are present in the cervical canal and the vagina and thesubsequent microscopic analysis of these cells. While a thoroughgynecological examination and biopsy should be performed in those casesin which the preliminary diagnosis indicates cancer, the preliminarydiagnosis can serve to screen many women and thus initiate the earlytreatment of those who have indications a means for mass screening forcytological detection of carcinomas of the pelvic region.

A further object of this invention is to provide through the cooperationof the patient herself, an accurate, inexpensive means by which cellspresent in the pelvic region can be collected and thus screen largenumbers of women thereby reducing the percentage of cases havingadvanced pelvic cancer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a means for samplingvaginal cells, which can be inserted by the patient herself, and willprovide satisfactory smears for laboratory evaluation without thenecessity for elaborate clinical facilities.

In accordance with the present invention a cancer detection tampon isinserted into the vaginal cavity in a manner like that for the wellknown catamenial tampon and remains therein for a time specified by thephysician. The tampon is then removed by the patient and given to anurse who makes a smear on a slide a0- z cording to the method describedin articles appearing in vol. 7, No. 6 of Cancer at pages 1182 et. seq.and 1185 et. seq. and appearing in vol. 159, No. 12 of The Journal ofthe AmericanMedical Association at page 1177 et.

seq.

'A better understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1' is a perspective view of one type of jacket according'to theinvention which is placed over a supporting body;

Figure 2 is a perspectiveview of a vaginal supporting body-suitable foruse with the jacket of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the jacketed tampon read for use; I

Figure 4 is a perspective view of another type of jacket suitable,according to the invention, to be assembled over a cotton pad and theassembly compressed to form the detection tampon;

Figure Sis a perspective view of an uncompressed cotton pad for use withthe jacket of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the assembled detection tampon showingthe jacket turned inside out so that the seam is on the inside andshowing the jacket fitted over one end of the uncompressed cotton padand the two sewn together with the string; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the assembled detection tampon ofFigure 6 after it has been compressed into a cylindrical form;

Referring tofFigures 1 and 2 there is shown supporting body 10 similarinsize and shape to the type generally used for catamenial tampons. Body10 is made ofa size andof a materialwhich is sufiiciently flexible to becomfortable carried in the vaginal cavity, in a preferred example thismay be about /2" x 2%. In the embodiment illustrated a cotton fiber bodyis employed as the supporting means and is covered by jacket 12.

Jacket 12 is formed from a piece of material sewed into a generallyround tube with a closed but enlarged cap 13. Jacket 12 is made so thatit covers one end and extends approximately one-half the length of body10. The fins of material 16 along the seams 18 are on the inside of thejacket leaving the outside smooth. In the present embodiment jacket 12is made out of a closely woven, sheer cloth which is manufactured from anonabsorbent, relatively fine, continuous filament yarn such as nylon.

Figure 3 shows body 10 and jacket 12 assembled into a detection tampon14 which embodies features of the invention. T ampon 14 is shaped into agenerally round form. One endof body 10 is covered by closed end 13 ofjacket 12 and the other end is attached to a removal string 22. Removalstrip 22 is sewed into the tampon 14 by the same stitching that securelyaflixes jacket 12 to body 10 forming tampon 14.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7.The jacket 12a of Figure 4 is slipped over cotton pad 10a shown inFigure 5. The jacket 12a is similar to jacket 12 shown in Figure 1.Jacket 12a is a closely woven sheer cloth manufactured from relativelynon-absorbent, continuous filament such as nylon. The cloth when foldedback upon itself, as shown in Figure 4, is stitched along one edgeextending from the fold and the edge opposite to the fold; but a verysatisfactory jacket can be made from a longer and narrower piece ofcloth folded back upon itself and stitched along opposite edges adjacentto the fold. Or a tubular fabric of the required width can be sewnacross one end. Thus it will be seen that the essential feature is thatthe jacket is closed on the sides and one end, and open at its other endand of a size adapted to contain cotton pad 10a as shown in Figure 5.

After the jacket 12a has been sewn as shown in Figure 4, it is turnedinside leaving a smooth exterior surface.

Figure 6 shows an uncompressed cotton pad a and jacket 12a assembled andstitched as at 47 down the center and to withdrawal cord 22a forminguncompressed tampon 14a.

Figure 7 shows the assembled tampon 14b comprising jacket 12a and cottonpad 10a after the tampon has been compressed into a cylindrical shape.Surplus material at the top of the jacket forms a chefs cap 13a.

The jacket 12 and 12a holds whatever cells are collected from the bodycavity on the surface of the jacket. Because the cloth of the jacket isnon-absorbent these cells are not dehydrated and thus remain in arelatively moist condition which enables a more accurate clinicalevaluation. It has also been found most satisfactory for collection ofvaginal smears that the exterior surface and 20a of the jacket 12 and12a be relatively smooth. The fin of material resulting from the seamshould therefore be made on the inside.

The enlarged cap 13 and 13a which extends farthest into the vaginalcanal collects and retains in moist form many cells. While the specificreasons for the improved sampling through use of the enlarged cap 13 and13a remain obscure at this time tests have proven that a largepercentage of cells are collected on the cap 13 and 13a and by using atampon with such a cap the sampling of cells from the vagina is greatlyimproved.

The pliability of tampons 14, 14a and 14b permits the easy removal ofthe collected cells by evenly smearing onto a microscope slide, with orwithout squeezing with finger pressure against its sides andadvantageously rotating the tampon in contact with the slide.

In the embodiments I have described the tampon is comprised of a jacketof non-absorbent, relatively fine,,

continuous filament yarn such as nylon and a supporting body of cottonfiber. Laboratory tests have conclusively indicated that the use of thenon-absorbent supporting body is also practical for the collection ofcells. Thus, for the collection of cells a plastic, rubber or othernonabsorbent supporting body with the nylon like he used.

I claim:

1. A vaginal type tampon comprised of a supporting body, flexible butstiff enough to project its end into the vaginal cavity and against thecervix, and a jacket secured to said body and covering one end of saidsupporting body and the adjacent portion of the body, but extendingbeyond it in a loose cap, said jacket being a fine-mesh fabric made ofnon-absorbent relatively fine filament.

2. A vaginal tampon comprising a jacket of relatively non-absorbentfilament .nylon, a body formed into a cylindrical shape, said jacketextending over said body and beyond it forming a loose cap.

3. A vaginal tampon comprising a jacket of relatively non-absorbentfilament nylon and supporting means to carry said jacket, saidsupporting means being of a size, shape, and flexibility such that thetampon may be inserted in the vaginal cavity, and said jacket-extendingover said supporting means and beyond one end to form at said end arelatively large, loose cap.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS66,022 Henderson et a1 June 25, 1867 1,555,708 Gale Sept. 29, '19252,267,030 Hill Dec. 23, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Brunschwig: Cancer, volume7, pp. 1182-1184, November 1954.

jacket can i

